Well from small things, mama, big things one day come

URBAN FOREST STRATEGY

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WHEREAS The City of Pickering has established itself as a municipal leader in sustainable initiatives;

 

WHEREAS an Urban Forest Strategy is a long range initiative towards climate change adaptation goals by sustaining and enhancing the City of Pickering’s urban forest and tree canopy as part of a green infrastructure that meets sustainability objectives and promotes benefits such as;

·      improved air quality;

·      improved water quality;

·      reduced energy costs;

·      mitigates “heat island effects” of urban intensification;

·      increased property and tourism values;

·      asthetics and privacy;

·      community capacity building;

·      wildlife habitat;

·      invasive species management

 

WHEREAS there is a need to enhance and promote the care and benefit of trees for present and future generations in Ontario through education, research, awareness and environmental stewardship;

 

WHEREAS there is a need to develop an Urban Forest Strategy in which to idenitify a framework to advance policies and practices designed to sustain and enhance the City’s urban forest resources;

 

WHEREAS an Urban Forest Strategy is designed to be a comprehensive and practical document that establishes the guiding principles and policies for the management and enhancement of the City’s urban forest and tree canopy;

 

WHEREAS an Urban Forest Strategy is aligned with the City of Pickerings’ Official Plan Review, Provincial Growth Strategy, Places to Grow conformity exercise, Communities in Bloom program, ongoing commitment to community environmental stewardship and Sustainable Pickering initiative.

 

WHEREAS an Urban Forest Strategy will encompass clear objectives, measurable outcomes and make recommendations to existing policies and practices to sustain and enhance tree cover as an essential and natural resource; and

 

WHEREAS in the 2004-2005 report, the Enviornmental Commissioner of Ontario identified “sustaining urban forests” as one of five developing areas of concern in the Province and recommended that the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing develop a coordinated urban forest strategy to protect urban and heritage trees, working together with municipalities and local agencies;

  

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT the Council of the City of Pickering hereby endorses the concept of the development of an Urban Forest Strategy for the City of Pickering;

 

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT staff be directed to REPORT BACK TO Council respecting the:

 

·       Development of a terms of reference for an Urban Forest Study in consultation with the Toronto Region Conservation Authority.

·       Investigate potential funding partners to assist in undertaking the initial Urban Forest Study and implementation goals of the Urban Forest Strategy

·       Identify potential community stewardship partners.

·       Report back on the matter.